Retired clergy offer to perform gay marriages in California

Wednesday 25 June 2008 10.39 EDT
First published on Wednesday 25 June 2008 10.39 EDT

More than 80 retired Northern California clergy from the United Methodist Church are offering to perform same-sex marriages, saying they want to help out active ministers who would risk more severe consequences for presiding over these ceremonies.

Church law forbids clergy - both active and retired - from performing gay marriages.

"We're willing to challenge the injustice and contradictions of this," said the Reverend Don Fado, retired pastor of St Mark's United Methodist Church in Sacramento.

As California enters its second week of legalised gay marriage, faith leaders are mobilizing to either fight the unions or support them.

During the annual meeting for the California-Nevada conference of United Methodists, 82 ministers agreed to perform same-sex marriages.

If disciplined, the clergy could be defrocked, said Fado. He believes that is unlikely.

When same-sex marriages were legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, retired Methodist clergy there began performing weddings, Fado said.

Retired clergy from other denominations including Presbyterians and Episcopalians have said that they also are considering performing same-sex marriages.

Church leaders who oppose same-sex marriage are working to inform members where their faith stands. This week, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is calling on California Mormons to support a November ballot measure that bans gay marriage.

In a letter that will be read in California churches Sunday, LDS President Thomas S Monson says Mormon teachings on the issue are "unequivocal". He calls on congregants to support the amendment by donating their time and money.

"If they have time, they should walk precincts or make phone calls," said Lisa West, spokeswoman for the church in the Sacramento region. "If they have means, donate to one of the organizations protecting marriage."

Mormons are one of the fastest-growing faith groups in the United States.

The church's involvement does not have the support of all Mormons.

"I think it's ironic that a church that was persecuted for its definition of marriage and family is now trying to do the same thing," said Dylan McDonald, a Mormon who is no longer active in the church. "They're trying to impose their definition on everyone else."

The LDS church has been involved in previous efforts to ban gay marriage. In 2000, the church worked to pass Proposition 22, which defined marriage "as between a man and a woman".

Fado, the retired Methodist pastor, said his fellow clergy believe they are following church law by reaching out to all of their flock.

"There is a lot of support here," he said. "We are called on to provide the full ministry of the church to homosexuals and their families, and, to us, that includes marriage."

Bishop Beverly Shamana, who leads the California-Nevada area, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In a previous interview, she said the church considers homosexuality "incompatible with Christian teaching".